From some of the comments published on the ADE webpoll it seems there is some confusion about 'Community Retail Stores'.
A community department store is not a co-operative. You don't need to be a 'member', anyone can shop there.
A community department store is a corporation, owned by investors (restricted to community members) and overseen by a board of directors that are responsible to a set of bylaws.
If a community department store runs into financial difficulties, it is the investors that take the financial hit. Investors own shares of the corporation. Investors cannot be assessed additional monies.
What if a larger department store opens in the area causing financial problems to a community department store? Presumably the investors lose their money. A risk they were willing to take.
A community department store will just be like a Wisebuys or Dollar Store. Maybe, maybe not. If a community department store is not to your liking, you have the option of not shopping there.
The Powell Merc only pays their employees $6-7 per hour and no benefits. So what, Powell will not own our community department store. We can do what we think is right.
A community department store is not a community organization in the sense that it is a club, fraternal organization or even a volunteer fire department. It is a corporation, recognized by the state, owned by investors, who happen to be interested community members.
But Wal-Mart.... To hell with Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart's financial future is dependent on locating in Saranac Lake, it is way too late to be concerned about them. They probably have the support to build a smaller store in the downtown area. This apparently does not interest them.
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11 comments:
Wow! Another Wisebuys or Dollar store coming to the area! I guess I will just use MY investment money to make the trip to Plattsburgh, Malone, Massena, Burlington, Albany, Shop-On Line, via Catalog, etc... etc... etc... Your retail solution does not sound like such a retail solution after all! If the community does start such a store, which is highly doubtful, I think they should pay all of its employees a living wage (no part-timers either) with full medical, dental, and retirement benefits which you advocate Wal-Mart adopting for it's employees - You (the investors) wouldn't want to appear to be hypocritical would you?
One other thing to add to the above comment. I don't think the community store should sell items to the good people of Saranac Lake which were manufactured in any country which has any human rights problems with exploiting the workers (i.e. China). This would also be hypocritical and who needs all that cheap, badly made crap which will not last anyway! Your store should offer a wide array of quality goods (USA Made)to the consumers of Saranac Lake at the lowest possible prices (lowest proifit margin possible) to keep us from traveling out of town to find our retail needs. Isn't this the whole point of your retail solution? Or is this just a distraction to lull the masses?
Boy - you people want everything. You want the easiest way out. God forbid you have to become part of a community and care about the FUTURE of your home town. Do you have any idea what Wal-Mart and its friends do to communities? Have you ever lived in an everywhere usa town? Get a grip. Do what is right for everyone and not just yourself. Be part of the community and think about others. The anti-walmart folks seem to think about you and your needs. Can you think about them? Can you compromise? Can you think positive? Come on, no one owes everything to you. Next you'll be wanting the anti-walmart folks to drive to Plattsburgh for you and do your shopping. Think about where you live, why you like it and why you are here. Is it because you like the people? You have friends and family here? The way of life? Is it because it is your home? Is it because it is different than everywhere else? Think about it and then become part of it if it means so much.
Obviously, the people who made the first 2 comments did not go to the public forum on this topic. They also did not read thorougly the comments made on this web site either.
A community department store is NOT A FAMILY DOLLAR OR WISE BUYS. Did you get that? Maybe I should repeat that. IT IS NOT A FAMILY DOLLAR OR WISE BUYS. This store is what the community decides it is.
In Powell, Wyoming the store buyer goes after product the LOCAL COMMUNITY NEEDS. This type of store is far different from a corporation that DECIDES WHAT IT WANTS TO SELL. Never mind what locals want and need. The corporation makes buying decisions at the top. They never visit your community to see what it is locals really want them to sell. You get a cookie-cutter store with merchandise that all their other stores sell.
In Powell some of the older women wanted the store to carry Lorraine underwear. Apparently there is something about this brand of underwear. Well, the store buyer was able to find a place he could purchase it, and guess what? The Merc now sells Lorraine underwear.
This is what a community department store does. It is responsive to the needs of the community.
It is far too easy to criticize and complain about this concept. Perhaps before you complain and criticize, you should find out more. Anybody can complain. That's easy.
Actually I mostly agree with commenter #1 and #2 (Alan). I wouldn't want to invest in a community department store that did not offer it's employee's a living wage and at least health insurance benefits. I agree that items should be sold at the lowest profit margin possible that allows the employees to make a living wage. I wish they could purchase only USA made items, but since Wal-Mart has sent most of the manufacturing jobs in the USA packing to overseas, that is quite unlikely to happen. As for where you spend your investment money, that of course is completely up to you. I'm not really sure why the issue of a community department store seems to upset you so much however.
In response to the condescending comment #3. Yes, I would love some of the anti-Wal-Marters to drive to Plattsburgh for me to do my shopping. I can even provide them with a list - that way I can spend my weekend time off here in the Adirondacks enjoying myself instead of making the 100 mile round trip and wasting a good portion of the weekend just to take care of necessities which cannot be found here. I do think wasting time and gas driving back and forth from Plattsburgh degrades my quality of life here as I would rather be using my time going to the beach with my kids, Kayaking, Hiking, etc.. rather than driving. I just hope the anti-Wal-Marters don't go into shock by stepping foot in the Plattsburgh Wal-Mart of any other big box I specify. Thank you so much for the anti-Wal-Marters deeply felt concerns for all of the working families, retirees, and the individuals who cannot afford to make this trip. Maybe we should just scrap the idea of a community store and institute a community sponsored shuttle bus system with adequate room for individuals’ purchases with regular daily service to Plattsburgh or Malone. We could sell shares in the Saranac Lake Retail Transport Express and charge riders a small fee to cover the salaries, fringe benefits, and operating costs of the shuttle service with a annual return to the investors. This way the character of our community will be preserved and the consumers will have access to more retail options and competitive prices. Again, thanks for your concerns for my welfare and that of my family here in Saranac Lake.
Alan - do I detect a bit of sarcasm?
Peter - Are we now on a first name basis for our postings or what?
That above post was curious Alan, but it wasn't from me. You are becoming famous it seems.
Oh come on Peter, you sometimes post as "anonymous" don't you? Have a nice day!
It was I who made the reference to "Alan" and I got it from Adirondack Wal-Mart's reference (Alan) above in posting #5. I really don't have a clue as to who you are "Alan", nor do I know who "Peter" is... which is fine - it's the dialogue that I'm most interested.
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